Indian Railways mulling over linking Aadhaar with concessional ticket booking

After successful linking Aadhaar cards with LPG service and passport service, the government is now mulling over using it for railways ticket bookings and Indian Railways is soon expected to hold discussions with UIDAI for the same.

The Finance Ministry has asked various ministries including the Railways to identify areas where Aadhaar-based verification can be applied before doling out subsidies, a senior Railway Ministry official told PTI.

In railways, people in various categories including senior citizens, patients, eminent artists and sports persons are eligible for availing concessional fare facilities. “We are exploring how to link the ticketing system with Aadhaar so that it can be verified before booking concessional tickets,” said the official.

Reportedly, CRIS, railways technology arm, will hold threadbare discussions with UIDAI to find out a way forward for making it possible in the national transporter.

The purported plan, however, isn’t foolproof. Though the Aadhaar-based booking system will prevent touts using fake names and IDs and the concessions will be availed by the genuine persons, it will slow down the system.

“Currently, we are booking about 15,000 tickets in a minute. Once the system is linked with Aadhaar, it will take some time to verify and as a result, the ticket delivery process will be delayed,” the official added.

He further said railways has its own verification system as before giving tickets and also on board checkings are being conducted by authorities concerned.